Grease traps are required to be installed in every restaurant and eating establishment in the United States. During the dishwashing process the hot water used, along with the dishwashing detergent, removes the grease, oil and fat from the plates, silverware and cooling utensils and is deposited into the buildings sewage system, which discharges into the public sewage system downstream.
Once the grease, oil or fat cools, it becomes hard and adheres to the pipes inside and outside of the building and can lead to sewer blockages and poor sewer system performance. The purpose of the trap is to prevent grease, oil and fat, generated by the dishwashing process in the restaurant, from entering into the public sewer system serving the facility. Grease traps are typically located on the exterior of the building, although smaller floor mounted grease traps can be found in some restaurants.
The grease trap works by separating the grease from the water, but to work properly they must be kept clean. The build up of sludge and hardened grease must be removed periodically for the trap to work properly. The removal process is fairly straightforward with a pumping truck, operated by a trained technician, arriving on site and pumping out and cleaning out the trap.
Once the grease trap cleaning is complete, the waste is disposed of properly and all supporting documentation is provided to the owner of the restaurant. It is important to note that a improperly functioning grease trap that allows grease, oil and fat to enter into the public system exposes the restaurant owner to heavy fines and other penalties.
Posted on behalf of Citywide Plumbing
